5 Ways to Make Clothes Last!

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By: Anna Skowron on April 11, 2016.

It’s always a shame when you buy an expensive, cute top only to have the wash ruin it after a few cycles. Sometimes we follow all the instructions but just can’t get our clothing to last as long as we’d like it to. While we can’t bring back the clothes of the past, we can look forward to a bright future of long-lasting clothing with these tips on how to make clothes last.

#1

Don’t Wash if It’s Not Necessary

I grew up with the idea that washing after every wear was the right thing to do. However, I’ve learned that this isn’t the right thing to do and will lead to a faster deterioration of your clothing. Unless you stain your clothing or absolutely need to wash it, you should wear it a few times prior to throwing it in the dirty laundry bin. This will lead to less fading and maintain the fresh look of new material.

#2

Avoid the Dryer

High heat will shrink and fade your clothing. While it’s the easy thing to do, line-drying is much more preferable when it comes to making your clothing last. Especially if it’s warm outside, try hanging your clothes outdoors. If not, line drying on hangers or a rack can work inside as well. Dryers takes the fiber out of your clothes and reduces their quality. If you do choose to dry, buy a dryer ball – they’re cheap and reduces the drying time necessary to get your laundry done.

#3

Don’t Dry Clean

Many people, especially men, make the mistake of over dry cleaning their clothing – don’t do it! The starch involved in the dry cleaning process is bad for your clothing. Some clothes need to be dry cleaned, and that’s okay, but use it sparingly. If you think a shirt needs to be dry cleaned, try steaming it first. You may find that it will look fresh and dry cleaning wasn’t necessary.

#4

Wash Carefully

Regardless of what the tags may tell you, it’s often best to wash them in cold water with only a small amount of detergent. Other small tips include washing delicates separately, washing jeans and jackets with zippers separately to avoid contact with more delicate clothing, and turning graphic tees inside out. Follow these easy tricks and your clothing will remain intact.

#5

Use Dye Baths

These are most successful for faded black clothing, such as jeans that appear gray. Buy a dye bath and wash your clothing with it to create a newer and fresher look. This will save you the stress and money spending that buying a new pair of black jeans entails, while refreshing your wardrobe in a quick and easy way.

Figuring out how to make clothes last isn’t as difficult as it’s made out to be. Just follow these steps and make sure to be careful around delicate clothing. Although some clothing may seem pricey at times, it can be beneficial to spend a little more once and not have to restock the item when it fades quickly. However, the choice is ultimately up to you. No matter what you choose to buy, take good care of it to make sure it lives a long and happy life.